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Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington talks with reporters during Major League Baseball’s general manager meetings, Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Carlsbad, Calif. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington talks with reporters during Major League Baseball’s general manager meetings, Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Carlsbad, Calif. (AP Photo\/Gregory Bull)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
DETROIT \u2013 Ben Cherington did not say that he was told outright that he will return as Pirates general manager, but he\u2019s operating as though he will be back in the role for an eighth season.<\/p>\n
Cherington met with reporters at Comerica Park on Saturday and said the discussions he\u2019s had with ownership have been about the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery conversation I\u2019ve had with Bob [Nutting] was just about that \u2014 how do we keep getting better? How do we assess this season? What do we need to learn from it? The progress, the things that need to get better and what can we do about that going forward? Everything we\u2019ve done over time is building toward October,\u201d Cherington explained.\u00a0 \u201cEvery decision we\u2019ve made, and certainly every decision we\u2019ve made over the last 12 months, was all aimed toward that. I don\u2019t think that changes. It can\u2019t change. We have to go into this offseason focused on that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 2026 season was the best the Pirates have had under Cherington. Pittsburgh enters Saturday\u2019s game against the Tigers at 81-79 with a chance to clinch its first winning season since 2018.<\/p>\n
While the team has shown improvement this season, the Pirates will fail to make the playoffs for an 11th straight season, including each of the seven years Cherington has been in his role.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOur goal was to play games in October. That\u2019s not happening, so we fell short of that goal,\u201d said Cherington, who has a 446-584 record with the Pirates. \u201cWe made real progress. We have to stay laser-focused on the work necessary to put ourselves in that position next year, to be playing games in October.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cherington\u2019s job was in question this time last year, but the Pirates decided to bring him back for 2026 while simultaneously naming Don Kelly full-time manager.<\/p>\n
The Pirates, so far, have improved by 10 games after finishing last season with a 71-91 record. Pittsburgh will finish in third place in the National League Central \u2013 its best finish in the division since 2016 \u2013 but was officially eliminated from playoff contention on Sep. 18.<\/p>\n
While the end goal was not met, Cherington views this year as a foundation being set for 2027.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do think there\u2019s tangible progress and I think we can point to evidence of that,\u201d said Cherington. \u201cYou can look at the roster and I think in every area of the roster: catching, infield, outfield, starting pitching, bullpen. There are really talented players in all those areas who are going to be part of this team or can be part of this team next year \u2013 most of whom are either entering or are in their primes and there\u2019s reason to believe that there\u2019s really good years ahead of them. So there\u2019s strength in that foundation and we have to be honest that we didn\u2019t win enough games, which means we got to get better, we have to find a way to get better.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite a year consisting of more disappointment than progress, and mounting frustration from the fanbase, the assumption is that he will indeed be the one to try and assemble a team capable of snapping MLB\u2019s second-longest playoff drought.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s my job to tell people how they should or shouldn\u2019t feel. I know what we\u2019re focused on. I know the progress we\u2019ve made,\u201d said Cherington. \u201cI know the talent that exists in this organization on the field and in baseball operations and in the staff believe we have shown that we\u2019re able to make good decisions in all areas of baseball operations and push this thing forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentioned in this article:Ben Cherington<\/a> Pittsburgh Pirates<\/a><\/p>\n